LONDON, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Another 12,330 people in Britain have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 1,629,657, according to official figures released Monday.

The coronavirus-related deaths in Britain rose by 205 to 58,448, the data showed.

The figures came as British Environment Secretary George Eustice warned Monday that it may be as late as "next summer" until "we can all start to get back to normal", depending on a vaccine.

Meanwhile, Eustice said it is "too early to say" if another national lockdown will be needed after Christmas.

"You can't rule anything out," Eustice told Sky News.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Sunday that the newly announced coronavirus tiers system has "a sunset" clause, or expiry date, of Feb. 3, after increasing pressure from Tory MPs.

In a letter to colleagues ahead of a vote in the House of Commons (lower house of parliament) on the new measures on Tuesday, Johnson said the tiered system will be reviewed every fortnight.

England is currently under a month-long national lockdown, the second of its kind since the coronavirus outbreak in Britain, in a bid to quell the resurgence of coronavirus.

Johnson has announced a "tougher" tiered system of coronavirus restrictions to replace England's current lockdown when it ends on Dec. 2.

To bring life back to normal, countries such as Britain, China, Germany, Russia and the United States are racing against time to develop coronavirus vaccines. Enditem

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